| What format should I deliver the music to you in? |
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The best format is WAV or AIFF files. It's best to record your tracks at 24 bit and a sample rate of 44.1khz if your intended target is CD, although I can work with any sample rate up to 96khz. A normal 16bit/44.1Khz audio CD is also fine. |
| Can I upload the tracks to a server? |
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Yes, I can provide you with an FTP link through a web page. Alternatively, feel free to upload them to your own space where I can access them. |
| What should I do to the tracks before sending them? |
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Nothing! Please don't additionally compress or heavily limit your tracks over and above what you did at mixdown. This is the most common cause of problems at mastering. Eq'ing and balancing a dynamically flat track that is constantly hitting 0.0 db through too much limiting can be a frustrating task at the best of times, leave all this to me. It's also advisable not to normalise the tracks. Some mix compression can be an important part of what makes a track sound great though so don't be afraid to use it creatively! |
| What do you do at the mastering stage? |
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Top and tailing (fades), EQ, transparent through to creative compression, click removal, spatial balancing, volume balancing and limiting.
Additionally I can edit your tracks to remove unwanted sections, edit the tracks for radio, or any other kinds of editing which you are not able to do before mastering. If you just want to add/remove or replace a section, I wont charge extra for this. I will always try not to make additional charges for this service within reason.
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| What happens if I dont like what I hear? |
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The most important thing for me is that you are happy with what you hear. If there is anything you are unsatisfied with, let me know. I want to find out what you are not happy with and ensure that any subsequent changes I make are right. There are no charges for this. It's important you are happy with the work and it's important for me to know that you are happy.
I always talk to you before a session either by phone or email to discuss the tracks. You might want the tracks to be as loud as possible, or you might have another track in mind that you'd like to push your track towards in overall sound and feel. Maybe you feel that the tracks need some creative compression to give a different feel, or add more pump for certain applications. There are many variables and approaches to consider so I always listen to you before I start.
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| How quick is your turnaround? |
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Normally 3 days from receipt of your CD/files, although occassionally longer if the job is particularly involved or there are special instructions. |
| How do you return my mastered tracks? |
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Once I have completed a track I will upload a preview 320kb mp3 for you to download, and if you are happy with the results you have the option of the WAV/AIFF files being zipped and uploaded to my server for you to download for free or I can send you a replication ready master CD, see pricing for more info on that.
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| Give me other examples of where mastering can be useful? |
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Aside from CD production and digital downloads, mastering your music can be extremly beneficial if you are preparing demos for record labels and want to create the best impact. Maybe you have your own website that your using to get interest in your music, or maybe you're selling your own CD's at gigs. Maybe you are cutting vinyl at an unattended cut and would like to provide a pre-master. Under these circumstances I can give the time to your mixes that isn't always possible in a large commercial facility that has a very limited time per booking. Whatever the intended application, theres no substitute for good mastering! |
